Paper roll dispenser



Oct. 18, 1966 l.. R. vEDvlG PAPER ROLL DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5. 1964 ATTORNEY Oct. 18, 1966 R. vl-:DvlG 3,279,715

PAPER ROLL DI SPENSER Filed June 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

LEON R. VEDVIG ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,279,715 PAPER RQLL DISPENSER Leon R. Vedvig, Rte. 3, Box 796, Edgerton, Wis. Filed June s, 1964, ser. No. 372,928 12 Claims. (Cl. 242-553) My invention relates to an improved dispenser for paper rolls.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a dispenser for paper rolls which will support a single paper roll in position for use and will store a plurality of paper rolls for later use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a dispenser for paper rolls which may be located substantially within a wall.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide such a dispenser which may be easily lled with or emptied of paper rolls.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide for such .a dispenser `a novel flexible stop which controls the ejection of the pap-er rolls stored within the dispenser.

It is an addi-tional object of my invention to provide such a dispenser which is ruggedly and economically constructed.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a first embodi-ment of my novel dispenser which is partially enclosed within a Wall.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section view taken along section line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section view taken along section line 3 3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a preferred roll holder used with my dispensers.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 2 and showing a second embodiment of my novel dispenser.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of my dispenser which may be attached to any vertical surface.

Y The drawings illustrate three embodiments of my invention, the dispenser 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3, the dispenser 11 of FIG. 5, and the dispenser 40 of FIG. 6. My dispensers are used to store and dispense rolls of any kind of material, especially toilet tissue, paper towels and other paper rolls.

The dispenser 10 is entirely enclosed within a wall 12. It is used when a Wall has an inside width larger than the diameter of the rolls to be stored. The dispenser 11, which is only partially enclosed within a wall 13, is used when the rolls to be stored are larger in diameter than the inside width of the wall. The dispenser 40 is a complete unit within itself, and can be eternally attached to any vertical surface, regardless of thickness.

The dispenser 10 essentially comprises a storage container 14, a stop and a roll holder 16. Preferably substantially rectangular in cross-section, the open ended container 14 is rigidly secured within the wall 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is adapted to store a plurality of rolls 17 in the manner illustrated.

One panel 18 of the wall 12 has an opening 19 communicating with the interior of the wall 12 just below the bottom of the container 14. The roll holder 16 is secured to the panel 18 at the opening 19 and partially fits within the opening 19. The roll holder 16 includes a flat frame 28 adapted to abut the panel 18, a semi-cylindrical rear face 21 which extends inwardly through the wall open- ICC ing 19 when the frame 20 and the panel 18 are in abutment, and a pair of substantially semicircular side faces 22 which project rearwardly from the frame 20` to either side of the rear face 21. The semi-cylindrical, closed end recess 17a formed by the rear face 21 and side faces 22 closes the wall opening 19 to prevent access to the flexible stop 15 and container 14 when the frame 20 and the panel 18 are in abutment. The rear face 21 and side faces 22 are of sufficient dimension so that the semi-cylindrical recess 17a formed thereby will receive a full roll of paper in rotatable relation, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. A pair of exible support arms 23 project forwardly from the side faces 22 to support a roll 17 partially within the recess 17a in rotatable relation. The arms 23 are slightly bent toward each other such that when the arms 23 are parted to received a roll 17, a spring effect is produced, and the roll 17 is firmly grasped between the arms. Any other suitable roll holding means may be substituted for the arms 23.

The frame 20 is preferably hinged to the panel 18 by any suitable means. As illustrated, the lower edge of the frame 20 forms a conventional hinge section 24. The hinge section 24 mates with a separate hinge section 25 which is secured to the panel 18 by screws 39 -or any other suitable means. A hinge pin 26 engages the hinge sections 24 and 25 in pivotable relation. Any conventional means, such as lock 20a, may be used to lock the frame 20 in a position abutting the panel 18.

The stop 15 is preferably made of spring steel or other suitably resilient metal material. It has a fixed end 27 and a free end 28. The fixed end 27 is preferably attached t-o any convenient area of the panel 18 at or below the opening 19. The free end 28 normally projects up- Wardly toward approximately the middle of the container 14, and at its uppermost position is preferably located just 'below the bottom of the container 14, as shown in FIG. 2. In that normal position the flexible stop is adapted to support a plurality of rolls 17 within the container 14. The stop 15 is also movable to an open position, shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2, wherein the lower roll 17 is free to move downward toward the opening 19 and the roll holder 16. Alternatively, the stop 15 may be made of relatively rigid material, and may be pivotally .attached to the panel 18. Such a rigid stop would require spring means to normally position the stop to support the rolls in the container 14.

The dispenser 11 is generally similar to the dispenser 10. It too has a container 29, a flexible stop 30 and a roll holder 31. The stop 30 and the roll holder 31 are respectively identical to the stop 15 and the roll holder 16. Corresponding parts are marked with the reference numerals used in FIGS. l to 3 plus the letter a. The containers 14 and 29, however, are slightly different in construction.

The container 29, which partially projects beyond the interior of the wall 13, has two basic parts, a channel 32 and a covering plate 33. The channel 32 has a rear element 34 and side elements 35, only one of which is seen in FIG. 5. The plate 33 has an opening 36 corresponding to the wall opening 18 and is adapted to yform the front element of the channel 32. The channel 32 is fitted within an opening in the panel 37 of the wall 13. As thus fitted, the side elements 35 project beyond the outer surface lof the panel 37. The covering plate 32, resting against the side elements 35, has upper and lower flanges 38 which are attached to the panel 37 by screws 38a or other suitable means. The roll holder 31 is attached to the covering plate 33 so that the rear face 21a extends into the plate opening 36 when the roll holder frame 2t) is in abutment with the covering plate 33. The fixed end 27a of the flexible stop 30 is preferably connected to any convenient area of the covering plate 33 below the opening 36.

The dispenser 40 illustrated in FIG. 6 is substantially similarto the previously described dispensers and 11, except that it is an integral unit which may be attached to any vertical surface, regardless `of thickness. The `dispenser 40 has a closed end container 'body 41 having a -rear panel 42 adapted to =be attached to a vertical surface and a front panel 43 adapted to support a roll holder `44 near its lower end in hinged relation. The roll holder 44 has a frame 45 with a hinge section 45a, a rearwardly extending semi-cylindrical rear face 46, side faces 47 and support arms 48, all similar to corresponding elements of dispensers 10 and 11. A tiexible stop 49 extends upwardly within the container .body 41 in a manner identical to flexible stops and 30 of the previously described embodiments.

My above described dispensers 10, 11 and 40 may be constructed of any suitable materials. Two common examples are sheet metal and plastic. I-f sheet -metal is used, the exposed surfaces may be painted or plated with any desired bright metal, such as chromium, to improve their external appearance.

All of my above described dispensers 10, 11 and 40 are used identically. Such use will be described in vdetail with respect to the dispenser 10, with the understanding that the description will apply equally well to either of the other two embodiments. Assuming that the dispenser 10 is initially empty, the roll holder 16 is rst pivoted away from the panel 1S, to expose the wall opening 19. The rolls 17 are then inserted one by one through the wall opening 19 into the container 14, the flexible stop 15 being pushed rearwardly to an open position, illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2, by each roll 17 as the roll passes through the opening 19. As each roll 17 is inserted upwardly int-o the container 14 the flexible stop 15 springs back to its normal position, as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 2, torsupport the roll 17 and any other previously inserted rolls within the container 14. When the container is completely filled, all of the'rolls 17 which are located therein will be supported by the exi-ble stop 15. The roll holder 16 is then pivoted back to a position abutting the Wall panel 18 and a final roll 17 is placed in the roll holder 16, wherein it is exposed 4for use.

When the exposed roll 17 has been completely used and a fresh roll is required, the holder 116 is again pivoted away from the panel 18. The stop 15 is pushed to its open position, allowing the lowest of the stored rolls 17 to -be removed from the container 14 through the opening 19. The roll holder 16 is then pivoted back to its position abutting the panel 18, and the removed roll is placed in the roll holder 16 for use.

My novel dispensers 1! and 11 make eicient use of normally wasted wall space. Thus with my dispensers 10 and 11a large number of rolls may be stored within a wall, yet only the roll in use projects into the room. My dispenser 4t), on the other hand, While employing the same yoperating principles, can be attached to any vertical wall, regardless of thickness, and does not project into the room substantially any farther than the diameter of the rolls themselves. A further important feature of my device is that it may -be economically manufactured and installed, regardless of which embodiment is employed.

My invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for rolls of material, comprising:

(a) a container adapted to store a plurality of material rolls,

(b) said container having an opening through which material rolls may be inserted for storage therein and removed therefrom for use,

(c) stop means Within said container having a first position wherein said stop means projects upwardly to support a plurality of rolls within said container, said stop means being movabtle to a second position by the movement of a material roll inwardly through said opening and upwardly into said container for storage, said stop means automatically moving back to said iirst position when said material roll is moved into a position above said stop means, and

(d) a substantially rigid roll holder positioned in front of said container opening and adapted to support a single said roll in rotatable relation for use, -while preventing access to said stop means and the-interior of said container, means mounting said roll holder to permit insertion and removal of rolls through said container opening.

2. A dispenser for material rolls comprising:

(a) a container adapted to store a plurality of material rolls,

(b) said container having a lower opening through which rolls may be inserted for storage in said container and through which rolls may be removed for use,

(c) a stop projecting upwardly within said container and having a normal position wherein it is adapted to support a plurality of rolls in said container,

(d) said stop being movable to an open position to allow said rolls to be freely inserted in and removed from said container,

(e) a roll holder hinged to said container at said opening,

(f) said holder having a substantially rigid rear face, a pair of side faces rigidly attached to said rear face and a pair of corresponding arms projecting from said holder at either Side of said aperture to support a material roll,

(g) said rear and side faces communicating with said container opening when said holder is rotated to a position abutting said container, thereby to close said opening and prevent access to theinterior of said container.

3. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the container is adapted to be 'located within a wall.

4. The dispenser of claim 10 wherein the stop is secured to the container below the opening.

5. A dispenser for paper rolls comprising:

(a) a wall having a pair of spaced panels,

(b) a container adapted to store a plurality of paper rolls, said container being located within said wall,

(c) one of said wa'll panels having an opening through which rolls may be inserted for storage in said container and through which rolls may be removed for use,

(d) a stop projecting upwardly within said wall and toward said container, said stop having a rst position wherein it is adapted to support a plurality of rolls within said container, saidstop having a second position wherein it is adapted to allow said rol-ls to be freely inserted in and removed from said container through said wall opening,

(e) a roll holder hinged to said wall at said opening,

(f) said holder having a substantially rigid rear face, a pair of side faces rigidly attached to said rear face and a pair of corresponding arms projecting from `said holder at either side of said aperture to support a paper roll,

(g) said rear and side faces communicating with said wall opening when said holder is rotated to a position abutting said wall thereby to close said opening and prevent access to said stop and said container.

6. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein said container is located above said -wall opening, and said stop is secured to said Wall below said opening.

7. A dispenser for rolls of material, comprising:

(a) a container adapted to store a plurality of material rolls,

(b) said container having an opening through which material rolls may be inserted for storage therein and removed therefrom for use,

(c) stop means having a first position wherein said stop means projects upwardly to support a plurality of rolls within said container, said stop means being movable to a second position by the movement of a material roll inwardly through said opening and upwardly into said container for storage, said stop means automatically moving back to said first position when said material roll is moved into a position above said stop means,

(d) a roll holder positioned adjacent to said container opening and adapted to support a single said roll in rotatable relation for use while preventing access to said stop means and the interior of said container, said roll holder being movable to permit insertion and removal of rolls through said container opening,

(e) said roll holder including a pair of side faces rigidly connected to a rear face which combine to define a semi-cylindrical recess adapted to partially receive a material roll supported on said roll holder, and wherein said roll holder is pivotable between a first position wherein said roll holder is adapted to support a roll in position for use and said rear and side faces prevent access to said stop means and the interior of said container means and a second position wherein said stop means and the interior of said container are exposed to permit insertion and removal of rolls through said container opening.

8. A dispenser for material rolls comprising:

(a) a container adapted to store a plurality of material rolls,

(b) said container having an opening through which rolls may be inserted for storage in said container and through which rolls may be removed for use,

(c) a resilient stop projecting upwardly within said container and having a first and a second position, said stop normally being in said first position to support a plurality of rolls within said container, said stop being fiexed to said second position by the movement of a material roll inwardly through said opening and upwardly into said container for storage, and the resilience of said stop means causing it to spring back into said first position when said material roll is moved to a position above said stop,

(d) a roll holder adapted to support a roll in exposed rotatable relation for use, said roll holder being hin-ged to said container and having a normal position wherein it closes said opening and prevents access to said stop and the interior of said container, and having a second position exposing said opening and permitting insertion and removal of rolls through said opening.

9. A dispenser for material rolls comprising:

(a) a container adapted to be located within a wall for storing a plurality of material rolls,

(b) said container having an opening through which rolls may be inserted for storage in said container and through which rolls may be removed for use,

(c) a resilient stop projecting upwardly within said container and having a first and a second position, said stop normally being in said first position to support a plurality of rolls within said container, said stop being flexed to said second position by the movement of a material roll inwardly through said opening and upwardly into said container for storage, and the resilience of said Stop means causing it to spring back into said first position when said material roll is moved to a position above said stop,

(d) a roll holder adapted to support a roll in exposed rotatable relation for use, said roll holder being hinged to said container and having a normal position wherein it oloses said opening and prevents access to said stop and the interior of said container, and having a second position exposing said opening and permitting insertion and removal of rolls through said opening.

10. A dispenser for material rolls comprising:

(a) a wall having a pair of spaced panels,

(b) a containerl adapted to store a plurality of material rolls, said container being llocated within said wall,

(c) one of said wall panels having an opening through which rolls may be inserted for storage in said container and through which rolls may be removed for use,

(d) a resilient stop projecting upwardly within said wall and toward said container, said stop having a first position wherein it is adapted to support a plurality of rolls Within said container, said stop being llexed to a second position by the movement of a material roll inwardly through said opening and upwardly into said container for storage, the resilience of said stop means causing it to spring back into said first position when said material roll is moved to a position above said stop,

(e) said container being above said opening, and said stop being secured to said panel below said panel opening, and

(f) a roll holder adapted to support a roll in exposed rotatable relation for use, said roll holder having a normal position wherein it closes said panel opening and prevents access to said stop and said container, said roll holder having a second position exposing said opening and permitting insertion and removal of rolls through said opening.

11. A dispenser for material rolls comprising:

(a) a wall having a pair of spaced panels,

(b) a container adapted to store a plurality of material rolls, said container being located within said wall,

(c) one of said wall panels having an opening through which rolls may be inserted for storage in said container and through which rolls may be removed for use,

(d) a resilient stop projecting upwardly within said wa-ll and toward said container, said stop having a first position 'wherein it is adapted to support a plurality of rolls within said container, said stop being fiexed to a second position by the movement of a material roll inwardly through said opening and upwardly into said container for storage, the resilience of said stop means causing it to spring back into said first position when said material roll is moved to a position above said stop,

(e) said container being above said opening, and said stop bein-g secured to said panel below said opening, and

(f) a roll holder adapted to support a roll in exposed rotatable relation for use, said roll holder being hinged to said container and having a normal position wherein it closes said panel opening and prevents access to said stop and said container, said roll holder having a Second position exposing said opening and permitting insertion and removal of rolls through said opening.

12. A dispenser for material rolls comprising:

(a) a container adapted to store a plurality of material rolls,

(b) said container having a substantially forwardly facing opening through which rolls may be inserted for storage in vertically stacked relation in said container and through which rolls may be removed for use,

(c) a resilient stop projecting upwardly within said container and having' a first position and a second position, said stop normally being in said first position to support a plurality of rolls within said container, said stop being flexed rearwardly to said second position by the movement of a material roll inwardly through said opening and upwardly into said Container for storage, the resilience of said stop causing it to snap back into said rst position when said material roll is moved to a position above said stop,

(d) lsaid stop being mounted in such a position that when it is flexed rearwardly into said second position it guides rolls inserted through said forwardly facing opening upwardly for storage, and

(e) a roll holder adapted to support a roll in exposed rotatable relation for use, said roll holder having a normal position wherein it closes said opening and prevents access to said stop and the interior of said container, and having a second position exposing said opening and permitting insertion and removal 15 of rolls through said opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith 242-5553 X Black 242-553 Scogin 242-553 Holmes 242-553 Page et al 242-553 Bonsignore 242-553 Ruch 242-553 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, STANLEY N. GILREATH,

Examiners.

G. F. MAUTZ, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 279 ,71S October I8 1966 Leon R. Vedvg 'led that error appears '1n the above numbered pat- It is hereby certi t the said Letters Patent Should read as ent requiring correction and the corrected below.

Column l lines IO and 42, for The claim reference numeral "l0, each occurrence, read 2 g line 69, for tbe claim reference numeral "I3" read 5 Signed and sealed this 12th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER Commissioner of Patents Attestng Officer 

1. A DISPENSER FOR ROLLS OF MATERIAL, COMPRISING: (A) A CONTAINER ADAPTED TO STORE A PLURALITY OF MATERIAL ROLLS, (B) SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH MATERIAL ROLLS MAY BE INSERTED FOR STORAGE THEREIN AND REMOVED THEREFROM FOR USE, (C) STOP MEANS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER HAVING A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN SAID STOP MEANS PROJECTS UPWARDLY TO SUPPORT A PLURALITY OF ROLLS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, SAID STOP MEANS BEING MOVABLE TO A SECOND POSITION BY THE MOVEMENT OF A MATERIAL ROLL INWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING AND UPWARDLY INTO SAID CONTAINER FOR STORAGE, SAID STOP MEANS AUTOMATICALLY MOVING BACK TO SAID FIRST POSITION WHEN SAID MATERIAL ROLL IS MOVED INTO A POSITION ABOVE SAID STOP MEANS, AND (D) A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID ROLLER HOLDER POSITIONED IN FRONT OF SAID CONTAINER OPENING AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A SINGLE SAID ROLL IN ROTATABLE RELATION FOR USE, WHILE PREVENTING ACCESS TO SAID STOP MEANS AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID ROLL HOLDER TO PERMIT INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF ROLLS THROUGH SAID CONTAINER OPENING. 